Super Eagles and Galatasaray striker, Victor Osimhen, picked up a hamstring injury while on international duty with Nigeria, Voice of Nigeria reports.
The 26-year-old Galatasaray forward was named in the starting lineup for Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier play-off against DR Congo, but was unexpectedly substituted at half-time.
Team officials later confirmed that head coach Eric Chelle removed the former Napoli star after he was seen clutching his hamstring at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah in Rabat, despite Osimhen insisting he was fit to continue.
After the game, the Super Eagles’ head coach, Eric Chelle, revealed Osimhen had an injury, and upon further MRI scans, the extent of the damage has been confirmed.
Osimhen to miss CAF Awards
The former LOSC Lille forward was shortlisted among the final three players nominated for the 2025 CAF Player of the Year Award, alongside Mohammed Salah and Achraf Hakimi.
- Read more: Africa Set For Wednesday’s 2025 CAF Awards
- Read more: Osimhen Gets CAF Nomination For Africa’s Best Player
However, multiple reports confirm that Osimhen will not attend this year’s CAF Awards ceremony in Rabat, Morocco, scheduled for tonight, Wednesday, 19th November 2025.
The striker has travelled back to Istanbul for a scheduled MRI scan after picking up a hamstring injury while representing Nigeria.
Osimhen scheduled to return before AFCON 2025
The AFCON 2025 tournament kicks off in Morocco on the 21st of December 2025 and will run through till the 18th of January 2026.
Osimhen suffered a moderate strain and bleeding in his left posterior muscle after the MRI scan.
It is expected that the Nigerian forward will be out of action for about three weeks and he’s expected to return to action in the third week of December, just before Nigeria’s AFCON campaign.
Eric Chelle will be hoping his talismanic forward doesn’t suffer a setback in his recovery process, as he’s still out in the cold after Ola Aina suffered a hamstring injury against South Africa.